Seaside City Council gets look at Monterey Downs site

With about 100 proponents and opponents trailing them, the Seaside City Council got its first official look on Thursday at the tree-studded site proposed for Monterey Downs and the Central Coast State Veterans Cemetery.

While council members expressed no opinions and took no action, Deputy City Manager Diana Ingersoll appeared to show her hand, saying one would not happen without the other.

"There will be no cemetery if the endowment fund is not developed," said Ingersoll, referring to the southwest corner of the Monterey Downs property, the sale of which would finance operation and maintenance of the cemetery.

The statement drew quiet cheers from Monterey Downs supporters and jeers from opponents, including Bill Weigle of Seaside.

"I think it's totally out of place for her to be saying that," he said. "It's creating the impression she is really in the lap of Monterey Downs."

Thursday's meeting began with a presentation by Monterey Downs developer Beth Palmer, who described the features of the project, including about 1,500 residential units — more than 600 of which are low-income, work-force housing or apartments — an indoor event arena, horse racing track, retail center, offices and space for a fire station and an Olympic-size swim and tennis center. Palmer said the 872 for-sale residences would average 1,600 square feet.

She stressed the economic potential for Seaside, asserting the project would bring an estimated 3,000 jobs, in addition to 500 construction jobs over 10 years; at least $12 million in annual tax revenue; $50 million in impact fees to the Fort Ord Reuse Authority for infrastructure costs and habitat maintenance; and $100 million in gross revenues from events that could be held year-round at the indoor arena and race track.

If approved by the state, the track would host racing only 36 days a year, she said. Comparing the project to the Del Mar racetrack, Palmer read from a list of events scheduled in one month at that site, including Cirque du Soleil, which paid $67,000 to rent the parking lot.

Opponents later queried the council about what financial guarantees it received, noting the city of Marina advanced funding for Marina Heights only to have the developers pull out.

Ingersoll said the city required Monterey Downs to develop a financial feasibility study that will be peer-reviewed by an outside firm.

After Palmer's presentation, the meeting moved to the open space of Fort Ord, with a caravan of dozens of cars snaking through about 500 acres of oak woodland at the root of opposition to the project, largely driven by bicyclists and other outdoor enthusiasts.

A hilltop stop along the route peered down on the site of the long-awaited veterans cemetery.

"Look at that view," said Jack Stewart, judge advocate of the United Veterans Council of Monterey County. "What else could you ask for?"

"What percentage of that is trees?" Weigle said.

The city's contract planner, Teri Wissler Adam, said issues such as the number of trees, how many would be removed by the project and the visual impact would be determined by the environmental impact review expected in the fall.

Bicyclists could be seen on nearby trails as the tour progressed. At Eighth Avenue and Gigling Road, the council was met by a large "No Horse Racing" sign. Rotund Monterey Downs proponent Carlos Ramos positioned himself to block the view and was quickly joined by other supporters of the veterans cemetery.

The crowd on the tour appeared to be dominated by horse enthusiasts and veterans. Speakers at the public session that followed were evenly split.

Opponents complained about the loss of trees, the impact of gambling, the commitment to the "cruel" and "dying industry" of horse racing and a sense the project would create a "city on the hill" while downtown Seaside would continue to struggle.

Rudy Rosales, a member of the Esselen Nation, said gambling had been forbidden as part of the Fort Ord Reuse Plan to block a possible Indian casino.

"Why is what's good for the goose not good for the gander?" he said.

Proponents praised the variety of venues and activities included in the project, the potential financial benefits, job creation and the need to "keep the promise" of a cemetery made to veterans when Fort Ord closed.

Ramos called the project's opponents "whiners" and "cave people" who are displaying arrogance by telling the council what they should do with their city.

Weigle said it was ironic proponents such as Ramos and some on the council complained about outsiders influencing the city when Monterey Downs' developers are from Southern California.

Ingersoll said a draft specific plan on the project is expected to be ready for public comment by early July.